Astilbe plant named ‘Country and Western’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant named ‘Country and Western’, characterized by its upright, mounded and compact plant habit; rapid growth rate; freely and uniform flowering habit; and light red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Astilbe hybrida cultivarCountry and Western

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Astilbeplant, botanically known as Astilbe hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Country and Western’.

The new Astilbe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new compact and fast-growing Astilbecultivars.

The new Astilbe originated from a pollination made by the Inventor oftwo unidentified Astilbe hybrida selections, not patented. The newAstilbe was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant by theInventor in a controlled environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands in1995 from the resultant progeny of the pollination. The new Astilbe wasselected on the basis of its rapid growth rate and light redpurple-colored flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by divisions taken atHeemskerk, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Astilbe are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Country and Western have not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Country and Western’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Country and Western’ as anew and distinct Astilbe cultivar.

1. Upright, mounded and compact plant habit.

2. Rapid growth rate.

3. Freely and uniform flowering habit.

4. Light red-purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Astilbe are most similar to plants of the parentselections. Plants of the new Astilbe differ from plants of the parentselections and other Astilbe cultivars known to the Inventor ininflorescence shape and flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Astilbe.

The photograph at the tope of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Country and Western’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence and leaves of ‘Country and Western’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants shown in the aforementioned photographs and used in the followingdescription were grown in containers under conditions which closelyapproximate commercial production conditions during the spring andsummer in an outdoor nursery in Heemskerk, The Netherlands. Plants inthe photographs and those used for the description were about one yearold when the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Astilbe hybrida cultivar Country and Western.

Parentage:

Female, or seed parent.—Unidentified Astilbe hybrida selection, notpatented.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified Astilbe hybrida selection, notpatented.

Propagation:

Type.—By divisions.

Time to rooting.—About one month at 18° C.

Root description.—Fine.

Plant description:

Form.—Perennial. Upright, mounded and compact paint habit; invertedtriangle. Flowering stems and leaves arise from the roots; dense andbushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely floweringwith numerous flowers on numerous branched panicles.

Growth rate.—Rapid; from divisions, about 20 weeks are required toproduce fully-grown flowering plants in 17-cm containers.

Plant height.—About 40 cm.

Plant width.—About 45 cm.

Stem description.—Length: About 30 cm. Internode length: About 8 cm.Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: 145A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; bi-ternately compound. Leaflength (including petiole): About 35 cm. Leaf width: About 20 cm.Leaflet length: About 6.5 cm. Leaflet width: About 3 cm. Leaflet shape:Ovate to elliptic. Leaflet apex: Acuminate to acute. Leaflet base:Cuneate to oblique. Leaflet margin: Serrate, occasionally doublyserrate. Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.Leaflet venation pattern: Pinnate. Leaflet color: Developing and fullyexpanded foliage, upper surface: 137A; venation, 144B. Developing andfully expanded foliage, lower surface: 137D; venation, 144B. At leafletand petiole attachment, upper and lower surfaces: 177C.

Petiole length.—About 18 cm.

Petiole diameter.—About 2.5 cm.

Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.

Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—143C.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement and shape.—Numerous single flowers arranged inbranched panicles; flowers face mostly outwardly. Freely and uniformlyflowering habit; about 1,000 flowers and flower buds per plant.

Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering during the early summerin The Netherlands.

Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about three weekson the plant and about one week as a cut flower. Flowers persistant.

Fragrance.—Faint musty odor, not unpleasant.

Flower buds.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm. Shape: Ovate toorbicular. Color: 145D.

Flowers.—Diameter: About 4 mm. Depth (height): About 2 mm.

Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2mm. Shape: Ligulate to linear. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening andfully opened, upper surface: 68B. When opening and fully opened, lowersurface: 68B.

Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five. Calyx length: About 5 mm. Calyxwidth: About 6 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lowersurfaces: 56D.

Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Color: 179B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About ten. Antherattachment: Basifixed. Anther length: Less than 0.5 mm. Anther color:Creamy white to light gray. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 11D.Pistils: Quantity per flower: Two. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigmashape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 54D. Style length: About 1.5mm. Style color: Close to 54D. Ovary color: Close to 54D.

Seed.—Length: Less than 0.5 mm. Diameter: Less than 0.5 mm. Color: Lightbrown.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Astilbe have not been notedto be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Astilbe.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant named‘Country and Western’, as illustrated and described.